Mount Desert Island Birds: Gary-cheeked Thrush
Mount Desert High School Ridge Trail, Hancock, US-ME
May 4, 2013 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
Comments: Comments: My camera and I capture an intense mixed species flock containing at least one Gray-cheeked/Bicknell's Thrush and numerous Thrush (Turdidae) unleashing cryptic shadowy moments around me, Blue-headed Vireo and warblers were some of the numerous charismatic species momentarily surrounding me and overwhelming my senses. A pulse so intense that after it was all over I felt drained...almost exhausted, there were so many birds around me. This is the first of the South American migrants on MDI and the beginning of the mass migration. Black-throated Green and Black and White Warbler were also among the mix. Northern Flickers, three in a tree were putting on a show I wish I had a longer lens for.
The first thing that drew me to the Thrush about 25 feet out, was that it seem distant from the flock of Hermit Thrush of five that I was following along the trail. The Gray-cheeked lack the vivid eye-ring of the Hermit but was also clearly not part of the flock, with males laying low on the ground, mouths open and feathers fully extended. The pronounced dark Malar strip leading to a well speckled breast than suggested a Bicknell's/Gray-cheeked which I have photographed in Havana, Cuba. I did not get a usable picture and therefore I hesitated to call it a Gray-cheeked (Catharus minimus) because it was not calling nor did it give any chip or call notes. The tail, similarly colored like the back, was dull and not reddish like Bicknell's or Hermit. I am confident that this bird was indeed a Gray-cheeked Thrush. Recognizing that this is an early record I do not have the photo to verify the sighting but took the time to decipher some of the most important details and could only reach one conclusion. Since I have been having a long standing discussion about these birds in Cuba and the discussion about Bicknell's Thrush I felt I should include the sighting of this species in this report. No usable photo!!
33 species (+2 other taxa)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 4 2 on the first fields on the driveway and the Couple on the septic ponds.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 3
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 10 overhead
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 2
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) 2 chattering and loud clear piercing calls.
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 3 three adults in a Tamarack displaying and repositioning. Beautiful yellow shafts. Wick-a-wick-a-wick-a
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 3 The two males were drumming. #1 explosively loud drumming followed by a response call of #2 about 3/4 of a mile away. There appears to be distinctive territorial lines between these two pairs.
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) 12 at one point I was surrounded by 8-10 all "churtteling" and "snickering" everywhere. Two males were loudly calling and one approached me when phished.
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 12 At one point on the west side of the pond I had 7 in a Tamerack
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 11
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 1 flyby
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 5 5 adult birds at first appearing to be fighting and diving at each other to foraging and swooping over the water..
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 1 continuing to call in the back cedar swamp
Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) 1 The first thing that drew me to this bird about 25 feet out, was that it was distant from and behind the flock of Hermit Thrush of five that I was following along the trail. The Gray Cheeked lack the vivid eye-ring of the Hermit but was also clearly not part of the flock with males laying low on the ground with mouths open and feathers extended. The pronounced dark Malar strip leading to a well speckled breast than suggested a Bicknell's/Gray-cheeked shot in Havana, Cuba. I hesitated to call it a Gray-cheeked (Catharus minimus) because it was not calling nor did it give any chip or call notes. The tail was dull and not red like Bicknell's or Hermit. No photo record!
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 15
Catharus sp. (Catharus sp.) 5
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 4
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 2 calling and a few very long high pitched and spiraling
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) 2
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 1 clearly seen
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 16
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) 3 silent and not calling, some chip notes but so many yellow-rumped around too
warbler sp. (Parulinae sp.) 9
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 2 male calling and female flying
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 1 through the woods
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) 3
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2 flying overhead
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13984119
Rockefeller Farm Norway Drive, Hancock, US-ME
May 4, 2013 9:30 AM - 9:50 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Stopped by to look for Bobolink, which were not found. Many Tree Swallow are using the boxes this year. This will be very busy here by the end of spring migration.
10 species
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 1 calling from the eastern hill
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) 1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 18 possibly more but in this filed at the moment
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 12
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2 flyby
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13984280
| Town Hill 2013, Hancock, US-ME Comments: Lori and I are sitting in the house working at 3:40ish and a BARRED OWL calls from in the woods. The crows were going crazy this morning so perhaps that was the reason why. 1 species Barred Owl (Strix varia) 1 calling during the day Michael J. Good, MS President Down East Nature Tours Founder and Director Research and Development 15th Acadia Birding Festival, May 30-June 2, 2013 Co-founder Penobscot Watershed Eco Center 39 COTTAGE STREET Bar Harbor, Maine 04609 207-288-8128 / 207-479-4256 info@DownEastNatureTours.com www.DownEastNatureTours.com facebook@DownEastNatureTours.com info@AcadiaBirdingFestival.com www.AcadiaBirdingFestival.com facebook@AcadiaBirdingFestival.com |
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